Method for controlling configuration of laser induced breakdown and ablation

A method for laser induced breakdown (LIB) of a material with a pulsed laser beam, the material being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a rapid and distinct change in slope at a predetermined laser pulse width where the onset of plasma induced breakdown occurs, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said predetermined laser pulse width obtained by determining the ablation (LIB) threshold of the material as a function of pulse width and by determining where the ablation (LIB) threshold function is no longer proportional to the square root of pulse width;
• and
• b. focusing said beam to a point at or beneath the surface of the material.

The method according claim 22 wherein the spot size is a diffraction limited spot size providing an ablation cavity having a diameter less than the fundamental wavelength size.

A method for laser induced breakdown of a material which comprises:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than a pulse width value corresponding to a change in slope of a curve of fluence breakdown threshold (F.sub.th) as a function of laser pulse width (T), said change occurring at a point between first and second portions of said curve, said first portion spanning a range of relatively long pulse width where F.sub.th varies with the square root of pulse width (T.sup.1/2) and said second portion spanning a range of short pulse width relative to said first portion with a F.sub.th versus T slope which differs from that of said first portion;
• and
• b. focusing said one or more pulses of said beam to a point at or beneath the surface of the material.

A method for laser induced breakdown (LIB) of a material with a pulsed laser beam, the material being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a rapid and distinct change in slope at a predetermined laser pulse width where the onset of plasma induced breakdown occurs, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said predetermined laser pulse width;
• and
• b. focusing said beam to a point at or beneath the surface of the material so that the laser beam defines a spot and has a lateral gaussian profile characterized in that fluence at or near the center of the beam spot is greater than the threshold fluence whereby the laser induced breakdown is ablation of an area within the spot.

A method for laser induced breakdown (LIB) of a material with a pulsed laser beam, the material being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a rapid and distinct change in slope at a predetermined laser pulse width where the onset of plasma induced breakdown occurs, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said predetermined laser pulse width;
• and
• b. focusing said beam to a point at or beneath the surface of the material which is biological tissue, the pulse width is 10 to 10,000 femtoseconds and the beam has an energy of 10 nanojoules to 1 millijoule.

A method for laser Induced breakdown (LIB) of a material by plasma formation with a pulsed laser beam, the material being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a distinct change in slope at a characteristic laser pulse width, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said characteristic laser pulse width, said characteristic pulse width being defined by the ablation (LIB) threshold of the material as a function of pulse width where the ablation (LIB) threshold function is no longer proportional to the square root of pulse width;
• and
• b. focusing said beam to a point at or beneath the surface of the material and inducing breakdown by plasma formation in the material.